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As the Benfica manager arrived at St James' Park and complimented Newcastle's coach and his squad, home supporters feared a tough game. However such worries vanished thanks to a goal from the winger and two more from substitute Harvey Barnes, making sure Benfica's new manager did not inflict pain for Newcastle.

Game Dynamics and Early Action

The Benfica boss had forecast that Newcastle would be extremely aggressive, but his own team displayed their similar aggressive style. Benfica clearly enjoyed breaking up Newcastle's early attempts to build a fluent attacking rhythm.

Compounding Newcastle's issues, key midfielders, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton, started as substitutes as they continued convalescing from sickness and a knock each.

Before the start, the two managers shared a perfunctory, cool embrace, and it quickly became apparent that Mourinho had told his team to quiet the home fans by slowing Newcastle and lowering the intensity at every chance.

Key Moments and Decisive Actions

The visitors' tactic produced mixed outcomes, but when Anthony Gordon and his teammates succeeded to break through the defensive barricades, they initially found it hard to generate good opportunities.

Moreover, the Belgian attacker Lukebakio almost showed how to finish when, after leaving Dan Burn on the ground, he tested Nick Pope with a tremendous shot that got an excellent one-handed stop. No wonder Pope still hopes for an England return in time for the World Cup.

Yet when Lukebakio directed another attempt against the post, Newcastle roused themselves. Jacob Murphy fired off target, and Benfica's keeper made an impressive close-range save from Bruno Guimaraes before Gordon at last opened the deadlock.

The England winger's blazing pace had caused consternation for Mourinho all night, and he calmly side-footed the opener past Trubin after his teammate's early cross into the box paid off.

On the occasion Newcastle's hard, pressing game was not second-guessed by Benfica, Murphy, preferred over the expensive signing, was there to deliver a low ball across the goal for Gordon to finish.

Later Stages and Decisive Substitutions

Right from the start, Benfica could not be blamed of parking the bus and seeking a point, but now their players pushed forward with real freedom. The winger consistently showed an ability to unsettle Newcastle's back four, and the home team were probably grateful to reset at half-time.

The opening period ended with the keeper again saving his team by tipping Lukebakio's shot around the post, and as the sides came out for the next period, everything seemed evenly balanced.

If Gordon, clearly buoyed by netting his fourth strike in three Champions League games this campaign, played with the zeal of a winger aiming to alter the power balance in Newcastle's direction, the Benfica attacker had different plans.

Mourinho's No 11 had already emphasized that, while Dan Burn is a capable centre-back, he is not a born full-back, and Newcastle hearts were nervous every time he moved forward.

Howe might have felt easier had Lewis Miley, deputising for Sandro Tonali, not headed a set-piece above the crossbar from a good spot. Instead, this thrilling game continued to move from end to end, prompting the manager to introduce the midfielder and Harvey Barnes in place of Ramsey and Jacob Murphy.

The Benfica boss, meanwhile, threw on an extra striker in Ivanovic. It would arguably prove a risk that backfired.

Harvey Barnes Wins the Game

Until then, Benfica, and especially their Portugal defender Antonio Silva, had performed a good job in limiting Woltemade's space and pushing the German striker deep. However, with defender Dedic off, the backline was underpowered, and the way was clear for Barnes to prove that Anthony Gordon is not the manager's only attacking winger.

The home side's double substitution was already proving effective by the time Pope sent a wonderful long throw in the substitute's direction. When Silva, on this occasion, misread the bounce, Barnes was away, accelerating into the penalty box before keeping commendable composure to lash a sublime strike past Trubin.

When Barnes slid a shot through poor Trubin's legs after receiving Gordon's stellar through ball, it was finished. The Benfica manager had warned that the Magpies have four very fast wide attackers, and three goals from a pair of wide men had destroyed his hopes of securing Benfica's first European result of the campaign.